Obesogens - What They Are and How to Avoid Them
You may have never heard this term before, so let’s start by explaining what obesogens are. Also known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (or EDCs), obesogens are toxic compounds that interfere with our hormones and endocrine function, and cause increased fat storage and metabolic chaos. In other words, they set you up for weight gain, and exposure to obesogens during critical periods of development may also predispose individuals to obesity later in life.
These substances can be found in a variety of sources, including food, personal care products, and household items. There are over 1300 of these EDCs, some of which degrade quickly, and some that bioaccumulate in our bodies. Many of these compounds are also what we call “forever chemicals” meaning that they do not degrade and once they end up in our environment, they NEVER. GO. AWAY.
We often hear about weight gain causing hormonal issues, but it’s often the opposite. Our hormones are essentially chemical messengers that tell the body what to do and what not to, and if those messages get corrupted or confused, it creates imbalances in the body. Obesogenic chemicals have an adverse affect on a variety of hormonal factors that regulate appetite control, basal metabolic rate, and ability to lose fat.
And this problem is of equal concern for both men and women. We hear commercials talking about low testosterone causing weight gain, but excess fat can contribute to low testosterone. When fat cells overgrow in a man, they can actually act like ovaries, pulling in testosterone and pumping out estrogens. So guys, before you start taking testosterone, you’ll want to focus on liver support and detoxification to assist fat loss which can then improve your hormone health.
Obesogens are lipophilic, or “fat loving” so they not only increase fat storage, but they also increase storage of other toxic lipophillic chemicals. This may explain the link between obesity and the increased risk of cancer and other diseases. It’s also important to understand is that adipose tissue (aka fat tissue) produces pro-inflammatory cytokines, meaning that excess fat in itself increases inflammation in the body.
I always focus on helping clients prepare their bodies for detoxification, followed by a gentle detox before they begin a fat loss protocol or ketogenic diet. This is crucial to prevent adverse effects of releasing these harmful chemicals into the bloodstream during fat loss, and can help clients achieve better long-term changes.
Common sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals and obesogens and how to reduce your exposure:
Non-stick cookware - use cast iron or stainless steel cookware instead and always discard ceramic coated aluminum cookware (e.g. Greenpan) if it gets scratched.
Plastics - store food in and drink out of glass or stainless steel only.
Pesticides - eat organic foods whenever possible. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list to prioritize which foods to buy organic and which one’s are less important.
Fragrances and perfumes - use unscented, non-toxic household (cleaners, detergents, air fresheners, candles) and personal care products or opt for organic essential oils and products scented with them
Canned foods - limit these to occasional use only (even if labeled BPA free)
Store Receipts - ask for an email receipt or no receipt. BPA on thermal printed receipts is easily absorbed into skin, especially if you use hand sanitizer before or after touching receipts.
Plastic food wrap - use reusable beeswax wraps instead.
To avoid exposure to obesogens, it's important to read labels, buy organic when possible, and choose products with fewer chemicals. Eating a whole foods-based diet can also reduce exposure to pesticides and other chemicals and eating foods high in sulfur (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale) can help boost your body’s ability to detoxify . Additionally, regular exercise (get sweaty!) and stress management can help support metabolic health and reduce the negative effects of obesogens.
Overall, awareness of obesogens and their effects on health can help you to make informed decisions about your lifestyle and product choices, ultimately promoting better metabolic health and reducing the risk of obesity and related diseases. And let me be clear - this is not about trying to be skinny or leading a perfectly clean, non-toxic lifestyle! It’s about nurturing and protecting our bodies as much as we can so we can enjoy longer, healthier lives. It’s also about making choices that support a healthy environment and food supply, so by saying no to toxic products and foods, you’ll benefit, and the planet will too.
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